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Priestly Purity
Article by Martin G. CollinsIn the context of God's royal priesthood, purity is an essential requirement, shifting from the physical rituals of ancient Israel's Levitical priesthood to a deeper, spiritual cleansing of the mind and attitude. This spiritual purity, necessary for preparation for the Kingdom of God, involves a continuous process of ridding the mind of sin, initiated by the blood of Christ's sacrifice which washes away sins at baptism. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world, meaning unblemished and unstained by sin. The purification of thoughts comes through studying God's Word and applying it in life, spiritually healing the mind from the damage of sin. By dwelling on God's way of life, carnal thoughts are replaced with righteous, pure thoughts, resulting in complete devotion to God and godly love. Obeying the truth purifies the soul, as God's law and Word are truth, and His words are pure, capable of replacing impure, carnal thoughts. Christ's perfect example of Christian conduct serves as a guide in this purification, showing through His life how to react to circumstances with truth. As God's people prepare for Christ's return, they purify themselves by replacing carnal thoughts with the knowledge of God's truth and the hope of His promises. Everyone who holds this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, our loving God and Father has purified us from a former life of sin, making it our duty as His royal priesthood to grow toward spiritual purity by purifying our minds with His holy words and thoughts.
The Beatitudes, Part 6: The Pure in Heart
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughPurity before God is far more than just being clean. To Jesus, being pure in heart, described in the Beatitudes, touches on the very holiness of God.
Not-So-Great Expectations
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeAt every turn, Jesus Christ was doubted, challenged, and scorned by people blinded and enslaved by their expectations of what God should be like.
Purge Me With Hyssop
Article by StaffThe Bible frequently uses the hyssop plant as a symbol of cleansing and purification. In relation to Christ's sacrifice, this herb has a connection to the Passover.
Preparing to Rule (1993)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSanctification is both a state and a process—a time period between justification and glorification during which overcoming, purification, and holiness takes place.
God's Sea of Glass (Part 1)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsUnlike tumultuous waves, the sea of glass before God's throne is tranquil and serene. Before we can stand on this sea of glass, we must be set apart and cleansed.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Sabbath is not a mere ceremonial observance, but identifies God's people as different, and consequently a perpetual irritant to the world.
Deuteronomy (Part 7)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSanctification is an incremental process in which we systematically destroy the sin within us as our forebears were asked to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan.
Matthew (Part Twenty)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus explains that what truly defiles a person—evil thoughts, murder, adultery—comes from their heart and mind, not from eating with unwashed hands.
Think on These Things (2018)
Sermonette by James BeaubelleOur annual, self-inflicted review of self can be humbling and even painful. We have a measure of control over our carnality which those in the world lack.
Using God's Given Authority
Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod has gifted all His called-out ones, expecting them to use those gifts with the pillars of godly wisdom for the edification of the Body of Christ.
Jesus in the Feasts (Part One): The Bread of Life
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughEven though the prophetic significance of the Holy Days outlines the the plan of God, the work of Jesus Christ in each event is even more significant.
The Commandments (Part Nineteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Eight): Overcoming
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughEach of the letters in Revelation 2 and 3 speak of overcoming. By examining those churches, we can understand what we are up against and what we must do.
God's Rest (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCoveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.